Strategies for Reducing Smoking Rates in BangladeshStrategies for Reducing Smoking Rates in Bangladesh Public health experts in Bangladesh are urging policymakers to adopt New Zealand’s successful strategies to reduce smoking rates and improve public health. New Zealand’s Success Story New Zealand is on track to achieve a smoking rate of 5% or less by 2025, thanks to its comprehensive Tobacco Harm Reduction (THR) strategy. This approach emphasizes the use of smoke-free nicotine products as safer alternatives to traditional cigarettes. Sweden’s Model New Zealand adopted the “Swedish model” of THR strategies, which has led to Sweden becoming Europe’s first smoke-free country. Key elements include: * Smoke-free public spaces * Annual tobacco tax increases * Regulation of vaping and heated tobacco products Bangladesh’s Context Dr. Altamash Mahmood of Bangladesh Open University suggests adapting New Zealand’s strategies to the local context to effectively reduce smoking rates in Bangladesh. Addressing Inequalities New Zealand has successfully reduced smoking rates among the Māori population by implementing targeted interventions and addressing historical inequalities. This approach could be replicated in Bangladesh, where certain population groups may face higher smoking risks. Integrating Vaping Vaping has played a crucial role in New Zealand’s THR strategy. By providing safer alternatives to smoking, vaping has helped to reduce cigarette consumption. Bangladesh could explore similar initiatives to promote vaping as a smoking cessation tool. Policy Changes Policy changes in New Zealand have included affordability and accessibility of alternatives, such as adjusting cigarette taxes for inflation. Bangladesh should consider similar measures to make smoking cessation more feasible for its citizens. Collaboration and Support Collaboration between health professionals, scientists, and consumer advocates has been essential to New Zealand’s success. Bangladesh can foster similar partnerships to advance harm reduction strategies and ensure equitable health outcomes. Conclusion Experts believe that by following New Zealand’s lead and tailoring strategies to its own context, Bangladesh can significantly reduce smoking rates and improve public health. The report “Quitting Strong: New Zealand’s Smoking Cessation Success Story” provides valuable insights and recommendations that can guide Bangladesh’s efforts in this crucial area.
Public health experts in Bangladesh have called on policymakers to follow New Zealand’s success story and implement strategies tailored to local contexts to reduce smoking rates and improve public health in the country.
Dr Altamash Mahmood, an associate professor at the Bangladesh Open University’s MPH programme, suggested that policymakers should take inspiration from New Zealand’s successful strategies to reduce tobacco harm.
According to him, by adapting these strategies to the local context, Bangladesh could effectively reduce the number of smokers and improve public health in the country.
The report “Quitting Strong: New Zealand’s Smoking Cessation Success Story” shows that New Zealand is on track to reduce its smoking rate to 5% or less by 2025.
It demonstrates the country’s dramatic success in reducing smoking rates through an innovative Tobacco Harm Reduction (THR) strategy. By embracing smoke-free nicotine products, New Zealand presents a compelling model for Bangladesh and other countries struggling with high smoking rates.
Smoke Free Sweden, a movement led by Health Diplomats, a global network of public health experts, conducted the research.
New Zealand adopted the ‘Swedish model’ of THR strategies, reducing the smoking rate in Sweden to below 5%, positioning the country as Europe’s first smoke-free country.
New Zealand’s journey to reducing smoking has been marked by proactive legislative and policy measures rooted in harm reduction strategies. The groundbreaking Smoke-Free Environments Act of 1990 established smoke-free public spaces and introduced annual increases in tobacco taxes, laying a solid foundation.
These efforts, which are in line with global frameworks such as the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC), have made a decisive contribution to the decline in smoking prevalence over time.
Central to New Zealand’s approach is addressing historical inequalities, particularly among the Māori population, who have historically experienced disproportionately high smoking rates due to early tobacco introduction and systematic neglect. Targeted interventions, catalysed by the 2010 Māori Affairs Select Committee Inquiry, have led to substantial reductions in smoking within this community, demonstrating the effectiveness of culturally sensitive strategies.
The integration and regulation of vaping marked a pivotal stage in New Zealand’s THR strategy. From the establishment of vape retailers in 2009 to comprehensive regulation in 2019, government-backed initiatives such as the ‘Vape to Quit’ campaign and the Vaping Regulatory Authority promoted vaping as a safer alternative to smoking.
Public health campaigns have emphasized the role of vaping in smoking, and misconceptions have been dispelled through widespread media coverage.
Policy changes have also prioritized affordability and accessibility of alternatives, adjusting cigarette taxes for inflation and ensuring strict regulation of vaping and heated tobacco products. Collaboration between health professionals, scientists and consumer advocates has been instrumental in advancing evidence-based harm reduction strategies and ensuring equitable health outcomes for all New Zealanders.
Dr Marewa Glover, lead author of the report, commented: “New Zealand’s experience shows that access to safer alternatives leads to significant smoking cessation. This success, similar to Sweden’s progress, is a testament to effective government initiatives and community support, rather than ideological opposition to nicotine.”
Dr Delon Human, leader of Smoke Free Sweden, praised New Zealand’s achievements, saying: “New Zealand’s rapid decline in smoking rates validates our approach. This model works, and it works brilliantly. We celebrate these remarkable results and call for similar harm reduction strategies worldwide.”
IHR/NMA
